How to save birds like a Superhero
Ellen Jakubowski,
Guest Blogger
In his recent post, Steve Gahbauer reminded us that many bird species are negatively impacted by dangers encountered during migration. You don’t need to look far to find evidence of this. Probably at least once in your life, you’ve found a feathered form lying lifelessly beside a window or even heard the thump when it hit. And maybe, like me, you’ve wondered how far that tiny creature weighing less than two sheets of paper travelled before it met its premature and preventable demise.
From the documentary film The Messenger, The State of Canada’s Birds, Silence of the Songbirds and other sources, we can see that these impacts are part of a larger picture revealing the steep decline of many North American bird species.
For those who care about nature, this pattern elicits a range of emotions. Not only sadness, but also anger, guilt and anxiety about the future. How can we fix the problems our species has created? Protecting habitat across international borders is necessary for preserving populations, but contemplating action on so large a scale can feel overwhelming. Fortunately there are many smaller things each of us can do that will make a big difference to birds:
Protect birds at your HQ
Window collisions are one of the greatest causes of mortality for migratory birds. Fortunately, preventing them is relatively straightforward. Refer to advice from Safe Wings Ottawa for making windows visible to birds at your home or business. For your home, check out this brochure for more information on what you can do to make your windows safe for birds.
As well, predation by domestic cats is . Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives is a new initiative under Nature Canada that promotes alternatives to letting cats roam outdoor unsupervised. Visit catsandbirds.ca to learn more and get involved.
Use your superpowers
No matter what your skill set, you can put it to work as a bird-saving volunteer. If you have keen powers of observation or just want an excuse to get outside, try citizen science. Bird Studies Canada and NatureCaretakers provide opportunities across Canada. If you’re a birder, you can contribute your sightings to the huge body of data on eBird from anywhere. Most of the types of organizations mentioned fulfill an educational role in addition their other operations. Attending special events such as Bird Day or workshops run by a local organization such as a naturalists’ club are a great way to up hone your skills and up your bird-saving game. And if teaching or public speaking is your thing, why not become an educator yourself?
Take a stand
Many bird-oriented groups circulate petitions or provide written letters to send to representatives for a more personal approach. Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives has a letter prepared that you can download and send to your municipality. If you’re like most Canadians, chances are you’re already spending time on social media and blogs. If you’ve got a knack for cultivating an audience, why not put that talent to work helping birds?
Birds face serious threats, but the good news is that a lot of people like them. Join the efforts of other passionate bird lovers, and we’ll make a positive difference not only for birds, but for the other species that share habitat with them as well.
